The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-08-13

persons on the train. He said he
believed there were only three ol
four dead persons in Piper City
Witness did not think it possible
anybody could have been so fend.
ish as to burn the bridge.
The train was running he judged
about thirty-five miles an hour al
the time of the accident. Engineer
Southerland told him that he saw a
very small blaze before reaching the
bridge, but thought it was from a
few leaves burning outside of the
track. The engineer also told him
that he did not see the fire until he
got directly over the br dge, and
then he called for brakes, but it was
too late. Witness remained until Z
O'Clock in the morning and saw to
the handling of the bodies. He sa.g
one or two persons picking the
pockets of the dead. He was in
formed by those making search that
they were seeking for their relatives.
If he had had any suspicion that the
bodies were being rihed by those
persons they would have been ar
rested. There was plenty of help
10 get the bodies out of the wreck,
valuable assistance being rendered
by the Chatsworth fire company. In
the cornfield near the wreck he
heard a man calling Help! help !"
Witness went toward the place and
found q man with his left leg broken
above the ankle. The man asked
him to turn his toes down. Witness
told farmers boy who cane by
with a bucket of water to stay near
the man while witness went to the
assistance of others.
A dispatch from Springfield, ILL.,,
says: "The Board of Railroad and
Warehouse Commissioners will 60
to Chatsworth to day and conduct
the investigation of the wreck of
yesterday morning.
CHATswoRTH, Ill, Aug. 12.-At
seyen o'clock this morning Master
Mechanic Warren, with a wrecking
train and large force of men were
at work. Warren was confident
that the track would be cleared for
trains by noon. They were certain
all bodies had been removed from
the wreck. A special car with the
officials of the Wabash road reach
ed the wreck early this morning and
rendered the use of their wrecking
outfit and offered to be of any SER
vice possible.
The Illinois Central also offered
any required assistance, but Warren
s,Ii1 he thougl+ his nrsaent equip
nserst would eIiaDIe nfm' to clear the
track. President L eonard, Superin-
tendent Armstrong and other Tole-
do, Peoria & Western officials were
seen this morning. They have
given devoted attention to the relief
of the injured and the care of the
dead. Both show signs of the terri
BILE shock which the accident has
been to. them. President Leonard
said so far rs the railroad officials
could estimate there were about so
killed and 100 seriously wounded.
There are many who were slightly
injured, of whom no record has
yet been obtained. A list is being
complied. Mr.. Leonard said that
as near as he could ascertain the
train was making about thirty miles
an hour at the time of the accident,
not on excursion. rate speed, as the
track was in good condition. The
bridge, an ordinary fifteen foot
wooden structure, was all right al
5 o'clock in the afternoon, when
train passed over it, and half an
hour later the section manager in
spected it under orders in advance
Of the excursion train. 1t was all
right then.
As to the liability of the company
or the future of the road Presi-
dent Leonard could not say.
The first thing the officials will 10
will be to devote their att ntion to
thu care of the unfortunate victims.
1t was blow which would of course
be most serious to the road, but
that was not being compared with
the death of human beings Mr..
Leonard said he could in all con
science say he believed the road had
provided every reasonable and Gus
tomary safeguard. With the con~
sent of the coroner, President Leon
ard has arranged that all unclaimed
bodies will be cared for, washed and
placed in cofins and conveyed to
Peoria, where with all their effects
they will wait Identification.
The horrors of the wreck seemed
deepening early this morning, in-
stead of lessening. Added to the
pitiable spectacle of the dead and
the miseries of the dying a stencil
sickening foul was issuing from all
the numerous places where the
corpses of the victims yet remained.
No picture of horrible occurrences
Immediately succeeding an accident
could equal in terrible details the
scenes at the Toledo, Peoria and
Western depot here to-day. The
west end of the little structure is a
coal house and lumber room, where
promiscuously stretched on the floor
in the coal and rubbish were seven
identified bodies; .blcod stained
bed ruggs, sheets and blankets
were thrown loosely over each, but
afforded but little protec ton from
the sWarms of flies which were con-
tinuously lowering over them, The
odor enanatinoe from the bodies ef>